It's important to know if you have normal, dry, oily or combination skin so that you can use products that cater for your skin's needs. If you are unsure of your skin type then you can do the following to determine it:

Cleanse your face and wait an hour before applying any product and try not to touch your face.

Pay particular attention to your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).

Normal: skin feels smooth with no oil or flaking in T-zone.

Oily: T-zone is quite oily.

Dry: skin feels tight and may appear flaky.

Combination: the t-zone is oily but the rest of the skin may feel quite dry.

Use a moisturiser with SPF

Even if it the weather is miserable and it seems overcast, your skin is always being subjected to sun damage. Using a moisturiser with SPF reduces harmful sun exposure that can cumulatively lead to premature ageing and skin cancer.

Exfoliate twice a week

This is a step that most people often neglect to do and I've been guilty of it in the past also. Exfoliation is necessary to remove the dead skin cells that gather on the surface of the skin. If you don't do this often enough then the products you use will not be absorbed by the skin and will sit on the surface. However if you exfoliate too often or use a product that is too harsh then it can strip away the natural oils and cause excessive dryness, irritation, redness and sensitivity. To keep a balance you should aim to exfoliate twice a week.

Use a serum

A serum can improve the overall look of your complexion by bringing antioxidants to the skin, restoring cell growth and decreasing pore size.

If you have acne prone skin look for a serum containing L-ascorbic acid and retinol; for normal skin alpha lipoic and glycolic acids should be in the ingredient list. It is best to use a serum after you exfoliate and before you moisturise so that it sinks into the skin. Again, you don't need to use a serum on a daily basis but a few times a week or when your skin is looking dull and needs a boost.

Stay Hydrated

This one is simple: if you are hydrated on the inside then you will see the benefits on the outside, i.e your skin. Wrinkles and dark under eye circles will be less pronounced and you will be less likely to get spots as you are flushing the toxins from your body. People who suffer from dry, flaky skin will see the benefits of this quite quickly (talking from experience).

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help to repair and prevent damage to the body's tissue. They also soak up harmful free radicals that lead to diseases and cause the skin to age. There are many facial products on the market that contain antioxidants but the best way of getting them is through fruit & veg. I've been taking Juice Plus for a year now and have noticed a big difference in my skin: it is brighter, my complexion is more even and I rarely have breakouts(went through a period of constantly getting those under the skin spots that are painful and leave a purple/red mark behind.)

Exercise

This increases blood flow and circulation which in turn leads to healthy and vibrant skin. Sweating through exercise also rids the body of toxins that often lead to spots and breakouts. When you exercise your skin also produces more of it's natural oils which leads to healthy, glowing skin.

Remember: As you age, cell turnover can take anywhere from 35- 57 days.
So if you are trying out new skincare or taking supplements then it is likely that it will take this long for your skin to see the benefits.